Dmb terminal for enabling simultaneous dmb viewing and phone call and method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017054841-A1
Application number	US-201615346369-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2005
Publication date	Feb 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A DMB terminal and method for simultaneous DMB viewing and calling are provided. The DMB terminal includes a DMB module for providing a DMB service; a modem module for providing mobile communication functionality, the DMB module and the modem module being able to operate separately; a DMB-modem switch unit for switching an image output path for outputting image information, an audible sound output path for outputting audible sounds, and a key input path for receiving a key input signal from a user to the DMB module or the modem module; and a DMB-modem switch controller for, upon user selection of an operation mode, controlling the DMB-modem switch unit to switch the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to a module corresponding to the selected operation mode

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) terminal for simultaneous DMB viewing and a call function, the DMB terminal comprising:
a DMB module for providing a DMB service; a modem module for providing mobile communication functionality, the DMB module and the modem module being able to operate separately; a DMB-modem switch unit for switching an image output path for outputting image information, an audible sound output path for outputting audible sounds, and a key input path for receiving a key input signal from a user to the DMB module or the modem module; and a DMB-modem switch controller for, upon user selection of an operation mode, controlling the DMB-modem switch unit to switch the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to a module corresponding to the selected operation mode.

2 . The DMB terminal of claim 1 , wherein the modem module includes the DMB-modem switch controller.

3 . The DMB terminal of claim 1 , wherein, if the selected operation mode is a DMB reception mode, the DMB-modem switch controller controls the DMB-modem switch unit to switch the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the DMB module.

4 . The DMB terminal of claim 1 , wherein, if the selected operation mode is a mobile communication mode, the DMB-modem switch controller controls the DMB-modem switch unit to switch the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the modem module.

5 . The DMB terminal of claim 4 , wherein the mobile communication mode comprises one of:
a call mode for processing an incoming call or an outgoing call; a short message service (SMS) mode for reading an SMS message or writing and sending an SMS message; and a multimedia messaging service (MMS) mode for reading an MMS message or writing and sending an MMS message.

6 . The DMB terminal of claim 1 , wherein the DMB module comprises:
a send key input detector for detecting input of a send key for originating a call or writing and sending a short message service (SMS) or multimedia messaging service (MMS) message; and a modem module interface for providing a send key input indication signal indicating the input of the send key to the DMB-modem switch controller.

7 . The DMB terminal of claim 6 , wherein upon receipt of the send key input indication signal, the DMB-modem switch controller controls the DMB-modem switch unit to switch the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the modem module.

8 . The DMB module of claim 1 , wherein when the modem module detects an incoming call, short message service (SMS) message, or multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, the DMB-modem switch controller controls the DMB-modem switch to switch the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the modem module according to a user selection.

9 . The DMB terminal of claim 1 , wherein the DMB-modem switch unit comprises:
an audible sound switch for switching the audible sound output path to the modem module or the DMB module, the audible sound output path being connected to an amplifier; an image output switch for switching the image output path to the modem module or the DMB module, the image output path being connected to a display; and a key input switch for switching the key input path to the modem module or the DMB module, the key input path being connected to a keypad.

10 . The DMB terminal of claim 9 , wherein the keypad comprises an output switching key for switching the image output path and the key input path to a module other than a current connected module during an incoming call process or an outgoing call process in the modem module.

11 . The DMB terminal of claim 10 , wherein upon input of the output switching key, the DMB-modem switch controller controls the image output switch and the key input switch to switch the image output path and the key input path to the DMB module.

12 . A communication method for simultaneous digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) viewing and a call function in a DMB terminal, in which a DMB module provides a DMB service and a modem module provides mobile communication functionality, wherein the DMB module and the modem module are able to operate separately, and the modem module switches an image output path, an audible sound output path, and a key input path to one of the DMB module or the modem module, the communication method comprising the steps of:
(1) switching, by the modem module, the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the DMB module, upon user selection of a DMB reception mode; (2) outputting, by the DMB module, DMB data through the audible sound output path and the image output path, and receiving a key input from a user through the key input path; (3) switching, by the modem module, the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the modem module, in response to acceptance of an incoming call; (4) processing, by the modem module, the incoming call to allow the user to conduct a conversation; and (5) switching, by the modem module, the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the DMB module, after processing the incoming call.

13 . The communication method of claim 12 , wherein step (3) comprises:
identifying the incoming call; asking the user whether the user will accept the incoming call; and switching the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the modem module, in response to the acceptance of the incoming call.

14 . The communication method of claim 12 , wherein the DMB terminal includes an output switching key in a keypad, for indicating to the modem module to switch the image output path and the key input path to a module other than a current connected module, upon receipt of the incoming call.

15 . The communication method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining whether the incoming call has been terminated, after step (4); determining whether the output switching key has been input, if the incoming call has not been terminated; and switching the image output path and the key input path to the module other than the current connected module, if the output switching key has been input.

16 . A communication method for simultaneous digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) viewing and a call function in a DMB terminal, in which a DMB module provides a DMB service and a modem module provides mobile communication functionality, wherein the DMB module and the modem module are able to operate separately, and the modem module switches an image output path, an audible sound output path, and a key input path to one of the DMB module or the modem module, the communication method comprising the steps of:
(a) switching, by the modem module, the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the DMB module, upon user selection of DMB reception; (b) outputting, by the DMB module, DMB data through the audible sound output path and the image output path and receiving a key input from a user through the key input path; (c) switching, by the modem module, the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key input path to the modem module, in response to acceptance of displaying a message; (d) processing, by the modem module, the received message to allow the user to read the message; and (e) switching, by the modem module, the image output path, the audible sound output path, and the key in

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Sung-Min

Classifications

• G06F3/0489

  using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof · CPC title

• H04M1/72552 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W4/14

  Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] · CPC title

• H04M1/72597

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N21/262 Primary

  Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists {(scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62)} · CPC title